frost



(Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

E. S. FROST. GRAIN BINDER.

N0. 280,461. Y APa'lserled July 3., 1883.

(Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. S. FROST. GRAIN BINDER.

No. 280,481. Patented July 8, 1888.

(Model.) Y 4 sheets-sheet 4..

E. S. FROST.v

. GRAIN BINDER. No. 280,461. Patented July 3, 1883.

UNITED STATES @PATENT EEIeE.

EDWIN s. FROsT7 OE WATKINs, NEW YORK.

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,461, dated July 3,1883,

i Application filed August 7, 1882. (Model.)

My invention relates to improvements in.

grain-binders which are adapted for use in connection with harvesters orgleaners, and in which twine is used for the binding material 5 and myinvention relates more particularly to that class of grain-binders inwhich the knottying mechanism is carried by the binder-arm; and the objects of my improvements are to simplify the construction and arrangementof the mechanism which operates the twine grasping, knotting, andcutting devices in their relation to each other, and also the movementof the binder-arm, to insure a positive action of the parts, and thusrender their operation effectual and certain. I attain these objects .bythe mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichl Figure1 represents a perspective view of the binder-frame to be attached tothe side of a vices, but with these parts removed to show the switch foroperating the twine-holder. Fig. 6 shows perspective views of the upperand under side of the shield carrying the track and switch used tooperate the twine-cutter. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the upper sideof the pivoted arm carrying the twine cutter and holder. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the twine-cutter. Fig. Sis a perspective view of theunder side of the same. Fig. 9 is a perspective of the twine-holderdetached. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the end of the binder-armcarrying the knot-tying mechanism. Fig. 11 is a top view of the samewith the top plate removed. Fig. 12 is a view of the under side of thesaid top plate. Fig. 13 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of thebinder-arm with the side plate removed. Fig. 14 is a perspective view ofthe-hook used to retain the ends of the twine in forming the knot withits operating rod and lever. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of theswinging arm used to remove the knot from the knotter and force it closeto the gavel. Fig. 15ah is a modification of the device to remove theknot from the knotter. perspective view of the pivoted nippers used tocarry the twine to the knotting-head. Fig. 17 is a top view of a portionof the shaft operating the grain-feeding fingers and theretracting-spring therefor. Fig.` 18 is a transverse section of thebinder-arm shaft with the eccentric and lever used to operate thegrainfeeding fingers.

In the drawings, A designates the inclined frame usually found inelevated delivery-harvesters to carry the. rollers c of itselevatingaprons. To the frame are secured the lower sills, A', of themachine, and also at a suitable height the horizontal beams A2, carryingthe shaft B of the binder-arm B. When the grain has reached the top ofthe elevating apron, it is received upon slats a, between which projectthe fingers a?, carried by the roller c3 to advance the grain toward thebinder-arm B.

Over the feeding-roller a3 there is placed a similar roller, a, havingprojecting ngers also to engage the grain and force it against the twoarms c c, pendent from the horizontal shaft C, these arms holding ituntil there is enough to make a bundle. Start the machine in operationas follows: rIo one end ofthe shaft C there is secured a crank, c,having a crank-pin, c2, that enters a slot in one end of acOImecting-rod d. The opposite end of the rod is connected with aspring-latch pivoted to the frame at d. This latch rests upon the clutche, and keeps its ratcheted face from contact with the ratchet-faceforming a part of the pulley B2, and consequently retains the shaft Bstationary until sufiicient grain has collected against the pendent armsc c and elevated them, so that the crank-pin c2 will bear against theouter end ofthe-slot, and pulling the connecting-rod d lifts the latch Doff the seat and permits the clutch e, under the Fig-.161s a' IOOimpulse of the spring c upon the shaft B, to come into mesh with theratchet upon the pulley B, and thus give motion to the shaft B, theclutch being connected to the shaft by means of a feather and groove, asis common. When the bundle is complete and removed, the shaft B comesagain to a stop by reason of the bev` eled side of the latch D bearingagainst the projection e2 upon one side of the clutch and forcing itaway from the pulley. This pulley B2 receives a constant rotary motionfrom the chain b2, leading from the pulley a upon the end of the shaftof the roller a of the elevating-apron of the harvester. This chaingives at the same time a constant rotating motion to the grain-feedingroller a c4 by passing over the pulleys a upon their shaft. As the chainbt does not encircle the pulleys c5 and c, it is retained in closecontact therewith by means of tension rollers or pulleys al, mountedupon an arm, A, pivoted at c to one end of the beam A2 of the frame. Thefree end of this arm A3 is kept down by means of a latch, A, bearingupon it, and this latch is pivoted to the frame A at c, so that bypartially turning it the arm carrying the tension-pulleys can be rockedand the chain can be loosened and mili nked. Just before the end of thebinder-arm is ready to descend and enter the grain received from thefeed-roller a3, said grain is separated from the grain just elevated andrapidly advanced and compressed against the binding-twine and againstthe pendent curved arms E by the jointed arms F. These arms F, as wellas the arms E, are pivoted atf to light overhanging beams A5, securedcentrally to and over the frame. While the grain is accumulating uponand in front of the slats a, the jointed arms F occupy the positionshown in Fig. 2, being held so by a spring, j", upon the shaft F, (seeFig. 19,) that transmits motion to said arms F, but when, as aforesaid,the end of the binderarm B is ready to descend, the cam B"s upon itsshafts (see Figs. l and 18) bears upon the free end of the bell-cranklever F2, that is pivoted to the frame AL at f2. The opposite end ofthis bell-crank lever being connected by means of the rod f with thecrank F upon one end of the shaft F, this shaft is rocked by the actionof the cam B striking the bell-crank F2, and thus pulling upon its crankF3.

To the shaft F are secured the arms F, and the latter have links F5,pivoted at f5 to the ends ofthe arms F, opposite the ends that carry thepivoted spring-fin gers FG. The joint uniting the fingers FG to the armsF is the equivalent of a butthinge--that is, the fingers and arms willremain extended while advancing the grain, but will be folded back whilebeing retracted to the position shown in Fig. 2.`

When the finger ends of the arms F are projected outwardly by the camB3, they do not reach quite so far as shown in Fig. l, they being shownin that figure in an extreme position, to clearly show the partsunderneath; but they swing far enough to compress the grain against thebimling-twine, the pendent arms E being locked, while the grain isaccumulating against them, by the pins f, projecting from the side ofthe levers F, these pins becoming engaged under the shoulder E at theinner end of the arm E.

The frame of the binding portion of themachine has an inclined platform,A, to support the gavel, and through the middle ofthe platform is cut apassage-way for the point ofthe binder-arm B. The sides of thispassage-way are formed ofnietal plates A7 and A8, carrying projectionsto operate as guides for or to actuate the ends of arms projecting fromthe shell or casing inelosing the knot-tying mechanism at the extremityof the binder-arm B', as will be described hereinafter.

Upon an inclined platform, A, set at some distance under the platform A,is mounted the combined twine holding and cutting device G. (Shown inFigs. 3, 4, 7, 7, 8, 'and 9.) It is pivoted to the platform AJ at g, andits free end projects in the passage-way for the binderarm, as shown inFig. 3. lt is kept at the upper end of said passage-way by a coiledspring, y, fastened thereto at one end, and having its upper end securedto the frame above at g2. This arm G carries a straight blade, l1.,having its extremity beveled to produce a knife-edge, and inclined toform a draw cut. This blade is slid endwise between guides forming apart ofthe arm G by a coiled spring, h', having one end secured to apin, if, projecting laterally from the inner end of the .blade h, theother end being attached to a hook, gl, projecting from th e arm G. Theblade h is retracted within the arm by a pin, h3, projecting from itssurface, sliding against the outer side of a spring-switch, t', pivotedto and located under the cap-plate l. This cap-plate is secured to theplatform A9 IOO over the arm G, andearries a curved track, i,

upon the concave surface of which the pin h of the blade h travels, andadvances beyond the point of the switch i when the free end of the arm Gis retracted to the top of the passage-way by the large coiled spring g.The free end of the arm G is depressed bythe side B of the shell, at theend of the binding-arm B', coming in contact therewith, the' portion b"of the shell being suitably cut away and bent for that purpose. Duringthe first half of the downward course of the arm G the bladcs pin h3rides against the outside of the switch t', and is thereby retracteduntil it reaches the pivot i of the switch. It then drops against thetrack 2, causing the knife to cut the binding-twine that is held in itspath bythe holder k. This holder 7c is a small rectangular bar, having anotch upon one side to form a hook, k, adapted to retain thebinding-twine. 'It is held within the arm G, parallel with the cutter h,with a very thin plate, g", between them.

` This holder k is kept retracted within the arm IIO permanently withinthis arm by a small plate, g, and is forced outward by a pin, k, passingthrough a slot in said plate g. The holder 7c is made to project endwiseout of the arm G by having its pin 7c3 ride over the outer side of aspring-switch, Z, Figs. 4 and 5, secured to the side of the passage-waycut in the frame supporting the inclined platform A. The edge of saidplatform is `cut away at Z to permit the pin 7c" to be retracted by thespring k2 behind the switch Z, andI thus grab and hold the binding-twinebetween the hook 7c and the notch gl inthe end of the arm G before thepin h2 of the cutter has left the face of the switch t', andconsequently before said cutter has been projected against the twine byits spring h.

The blade h may have both of its sides smooth', and operate successfullyin connection with the holder, but I prefer to construct it with'a notchforming a hook, h, in the side thereof, so that when the cutter-blade isprojected tocut the cord it shall receive in the notch the portion ofcord held by the cordholder, and this holder being forced out to receivea new end beforethe cutter-blade' is projected to cut the same. Thisnotch in the cutter-blade, by holding onto the end first caught by theholder, will cause it to be surely dropped from the holder notch or hookwhen it is -forced out to catch a new end. To give a side support forthe cord while the blade is projected to cut it, the cap-plate g8 of thearm G is provided with a hook, g", extending beyond the end of saidcap-plate to receive and hold the cord in front of the cutting-edge ofthe blade.

llhe binding-twine coming from the spool and tension device (not shownin the drawings) passes over or around the guide-pulley a, pivoted tothe frame on top of the machine,thence to theholder 7c, and beingclamped thereby, the machine is in proper condition to operate. rIhegrain fed along by the fingers of the rollers a and c* is pushed againstthe binding-twine and crowds it forward, so thatv when the end of thebinder-arm comes down the twine extending from the pulley c to theholder enters the slot m in the top plate, M, of the casing in the endof the binding-arm, and carries itdown around the gavel to the arm G,containing the holder and cutting-blade, where it is iirst grasped andthen cut, the roller n on the needle pushingA the cord behind the hook l7c of the holder; but before the cord is cut its two ends have beenseized by the spring-nip- I pers N, carried by the binder-arm, as willbe hereinafter described, the cord being guided between the j aws of thenippers by the beveled or inclined plate O on the side of theneedleframe. These nippers have a rigid jaw, N', pivoted to the needle@at la', and a jaw, N2, pivoted to the jaw N at n2, the two jaws beingkept closed by a spring, n, secured to the jaw N', bearing against theinner side of the rear end or arm n4. The rear extremity of the arm n*projects through a segmental opening, b5, in

tion p, vsecured to the plate A7 on the side piece of the passage forthe needle, and thus the portion of the cord after it enters the casingis received by the nippers. The binderarm continuing in its course, theportion of the cord adjoining the holder 7c enters also the slot m inthe top plate, M, of the casing, and is also received by the nippers,the latter thus seizingthe cord at two points with the gavel betweenthem. The binder-arm still advancing, the upper portion of the cordecomes in contact with the holder lc, which, as the arm G isdepressed,vfirst seizes it, and then the blade 7L cuts it at a pointbetween the holder andy nippers in the head of the binder-arm, leavingthe other part fast in the holder. The grasping end of the nippersholding` the cord Aare then carried up near to the head of therevolvinghook q of the knot-tyer Q by the arm N3, attached to the outer end ofthe pivot n of said nippers, its roller a5 passing in the rear of theprojecting track a, secured to the side plate A8 of the passage-way,andafter passing this track the nippers are restored to the positionshown in Fig. 13, by the spring no (shown in Fig. l0) pressing under thearm N 3.

To bring the band between the knottinghook q and the conical end of itstube, guides and latches are secured to the plate M of theknotter-casing and to the sides of its passageway, as follows: To theunder side of this plate M (shown in Fig. 12) is pivoted the latch mupon one side of the slot m, to close the inner end of the latter afterthe ends of the cord have entered the opening M/ in said plate, thespring m2 pressing against the side of said latch, and the cord isprevented from going too far in the opening M by an arm, m3, pivoted tothe top of the plate M at m4. A spring, m5, pressing against its end m,adjoining its pivot fm, causes its end m7 to press against and be lockedby the spring-latch m8, pivoted at lm, said latch being so locked byhaving its end m come in contact with the projection m13 on the end ofside plate AT. The latch m8 releases it at the time the knot is nearlycompleted by having its end m10, that projects over the edge 'of theplate M, coming in contact with the pin m12 on the `side A8 of thebinder-arm passageway. The arm m3, its spring m5,'and the latch m8, withits spring, would in practice be placed under the top plate, M, toprotect them from contact with the straw. rlhe ends of the cord are alsoforced sidewise againstA and within the hook g of the knot-tyer by thearm R, pivoted to the frame at r and lying across the passage-way of thebinder-arm, with its guiding-notch r2 in or near the middle thereof.

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The arm is brought to a horizontal position across said passage-way bythe spring r pressing` upon its inner end. lts other end is kept locked,except at the time the binder-arm B passes it, by means of aspring-latch, R2, pivoted tothe frame at o, and this latch is retractedby the side of the plate M coming in contact with its side arm, o".

The cord surrounding the gavel has its two ends retained by the nippersN after passing through the opening between the end of the latch m andthe arm on in a position close to the knot-tyer Q, so that when hook q,occupying the position shown in Fig. 1l, revolves, it carries with itthe two strands of the band once around the knot-tying head, and thenthe hook q closes upon the strands at the point nearest to the nippersand pulls them through the loop lying around the head in the ordinarymanner of this class of knot-tying devices, the nippers releasing` theends of the cord by having their arm a" coming in contact with theprojection of on the side plate AT of the passage-way. To revolve theknetter Q, there is mounted thereon a pinion, Q. adapted to mesh with arack, QF, secured to the side plate AS of the passage-way; and to stopthe momentum of the pinion as soon as it has made a revolution, there isa spring-pawl, s, made to engage with the teeth ofthe pinion. This pawlis pivoted to the frame B of the knotter frame or easing at s, itsspring s2 keeping it in engagement with the pinion except when theoutwardly-projecting end s" of the pawl bears against the projectingtrack Q located under and following the rack Q2.

The knetter-hook q has its inner end pivoted to the rod q2, having oneend formed with a head, q, that is received between the prongs of itsoperating-lever q". This lever is pivoted at q", about the middle of itslength, to the fra-ine B6 of the binder-arm. Its other end is forcedoutward by a spring, q, and it carries a roller, ql, adapted to travelupon the raised track r 1`-, secured to the frame in the lower portionof the passage-way to pull the rod q2 and complete the knot.

To remove the knot from the knotter-head and tighten it as close tothebundle as possible, there is within the casing an arm, T, pivoted to theframe Bn at t, so that its extremity T can be elevated. For thispurpose, its pivot or axle t is provided with an arm, T2, carrying atits end a roller, t2, that is depressed by coming in contact with theprojection t upon the plate AS of the passage-way at the moment the knotis removed from the knotter, otherwise the arm T2 is kept elevated bythe spring t pressing under it. The end T of the arm T in Fig. 15 isconcave to embrace one side of the knetter-shank, and it carries ahorizontally-swinging arm, T, having a perforation, It, which encirclesthe shank of the knotter-llead. This arm T is pivoted to the arm T at i,and is made to bear sidewise against the knotter-head, and tightens theknot by a spring, t7, the length of oscillation of said arm T beinglimited by the pin t, projecting from the arm T. This knot-removingdevice is practically effective; but the action of the spring t7 beingsomewhat sudden, I prefer the construction shown in Fig. 15, in whichthere are standing up from the top of the frame B" two guide-rods, u andu, having their upper ends bent in opposite directions, and betweenthese rods are placed upon the arm T two plates, T and T, retainedconnected to the arm T by pins 1f', passing loosely through slots in theplates T and T". The plate T has its end concave to bear against oneside of the knotter-shank, and the plate T3 has an opening, t, theinterior surface of which bears against the opposite side of theknetter-shank. These plates have grooves u in the sides to receive theguides a and a; and it is evident that when the free end ofthe arm T iselevated and brings the grooves a3 against the curved faces oi' theguide-rods u a, the plates T and T" will be moved in oppositedirections. The grooves u2 are shown as cut from the sides ol' theplates T and Tl; but they may be eut from the center ofthe plates byhaving the curved guide-rods a u secured to the frame B in a positioncorresponding therewith.

Upon one side of the knetter-inelosing easing or frame there is afriction-roller, l", to

guide the binder-arm against the side plate A of the passage-way. \Vhilethe machine thus binds the gavel, the latter is supported bythespring-arms V on each side of the path ol' the binder-arm. They arepivoted to the frame at c, and to their heels is attached the coilspringt, having its lower extremity secured to the cross-beam of the frame.After the gavel is bound it is ejected or delivered from the binder-armeither by its own momentum and weight or by an arm upon a rock-shaft, orby other suitable means.

The same binding-arin, with its cord holding and tying mechanism,may bemade to operate with a gleaner and revolve in the opposite directionfrom the one above described by inverting and changing from one side tothe other the side plates, A7 A, ofthe passage-way as well as thecord-holder and cutting-blade.

Having now fully described my invention, I claiml. In a grain-bindingmachine having a revolving binder-arm carrying the knotter, thecombination of the shaft B of the binder-arm, the driving-pulley B2,loose thereon and provided with a ratchet-face, and a spring-clutchsplined upon said shaft, with a spring-latch lying normally betweensaidpulley and springclutch, a connecting-rod, d, and a crank-shaft havingpendent arms c, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of a shaft, B, having a binder-arm carrying theknotter, a cam, B, upon said shaft, a bell-crank lever pivoted to theframe and operated by the cam B, a conneeti 11g-rod, and a crank-shaft,F, having arms F", connected to jointed arms F F", pivoted to the frame,substantially as and for the purpose set forth. y

3. The combination of a shaft, B, having a binder-arm carrying theknotter, a cam, B,

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upon said shaft, a pivoted bell-crank lever operated thereby, aconnectingrod, crankshaft F, having arms F", connected to jointed leversF F, having pins f 6, and pendent pivoted arms E, substantially as andfor the purpose described. f

4. The combination of a shaft, B, having a binder-arm carrying theknetter, with grainfeeding rollers a3 and @Shaving fingers cslats a',and inclined platform having cut centrally therethrough a passage-way-te form a path for said binder-arm, with gavel-supporting arms V,having a spring at their inner end, substantially as and for the purposedescribed,

5. The combination of a revolving binderarm carrying the knetter, and aninclined platform on the under side of the grain-table and lying to oneside of the binder-arm path, with an arm, G, pivoted te said platformand carrying a sliding cord-holder and a sliding cutting-blade, andprojecting into the passageway eut in the grain-table, substantially asand fer the purpose describe 6. The combination of a revolving binderarmcarrying the knetter, a platform er support on the under side of thegrain-table and te one side of the binder-arm path, an arm, G, pivotedto said platform and projecting into the passage-way eut in thegrain-table, and a spring-actuated cutting-blade adapted to slideendwise in said arm, and having a projecting pin, h3, with a Cap-plate,I, having a 4curved track and a spring-switch to guide and retract theblade, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination of the arm G, carrying a spring cord-holder, la,adapted te slide endwise in said arm, with a cutting-blade adapted teslide in said arm parallel with the holder, and a cap-plate, g8,provided with a hook, 99, extending over the cutting-edge of the blade,the holderl and cutter being provided with operating-pins extendingthrough the cap-plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The combination of a revolving binderarm carrying the knetter,janarm, G, pivoted to the frame and having its extremity projecting intothe path of said binder-arm, and a cord-holder, k, adapted to slide inthe arm G and carrying a projecting pin, 7o3,with a springswitch, Z,pivoted te the side of the binder-arm passage-way te project thecord-holder from its carrying-arm, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

9. The combinationL of a revolving binderarm carrying the knetter, apair ofspring-nippers pivoted to the knetter-carrying frame or` 10. Thecombination of a revolving binderarm carrying the knetter, an arm of apair of spring-nippers pivoted to the knetter-carrying'frame or casingen the end of the binderarm, and having its jaws adaptedto swing intoclose proximity to the knetter-head, and an arm, at, of thepivotedjawN2, projecting from the knetter frame or casing,with aprojection, nl, on the side of the binder-arm passage-way to open thenipper-jaws and release the ends of the binding-cord, substantially asdescribed.

l1. The combination of a revolving binderarm carrying the knetter, theplate M of the knetter frame orcasing having 4an opening and a slot forthe passage of the binding-cord, and a latch, m, to close said slot,with an arm, m3, and latch m8, and their operating projections m12 m13upon the sides of the binder-arm passage-Way, substantially as and ferthe purpose described.

l2. The combination of a revolving binderarm carrying the knetter, aninclined platferm having a passage-way cut therethrough for the passageof said binder-arm, land an arm, R, extending across said passage-wayand pivoted on one side thereof,with a springlatch, R2, on the oppositeside, released bythe binder-arm, 'substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

13. The combination of a revolving binderarm carrying theknotter-inclosing casing or frame, and a knot stripping and tighteningarm T, pivoted to said frame, with sliding plates connected to said armand adapted to bear in opposite directions against the knotter-shank andguide-rods u and u', secured 'to the knetter-frame, and having theirfree ends curved in opposite directions, and mechanism for operating thestripper, substantially as and for the purpose described.

14. The combination ofa revolving binderarm and knetter-carrying casingor frame, and

a knot stripping and tightening arm, T, pivoted to said frame, andcarrying a plate, T3, perforated to surround the knottershank, with anarm, T2, mounted upon the axle of the `arm T, and a projection, t3, uponthe side of the binder-arm passage-way, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

15. The combination of a revolving binderarm and the frame carrying theknetter, a pair of spring-nippers pivoted to said frame, and having itsjaws adapted te swing into close proximity tothe knetter-head, and anarm, N?, secured to the pivot of said nippers, and ha'ving afriction-roller at its extremity, with a projecting track, N, on theside ef the binderarm passage-way, substantially as and for the. purposedescribed.

EDWIN S. FROST.

Witnesses:

E. E. MAssoN, W. B. Missen.

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